By Niña Terol
AFTER the press conference that introduced the Movement for Good Governance (MGG) to media and other supporters, I heard from one of the MGG "elders" something that I rarely hear: an acknowledgement -- a thinly veiled apology, actually -- that the country is still deep in muck because his generation didn't do a good enough job of "fixing things" here.
"In spite of the activism then, we still didn't do enough for the Philippines," he lamented. "Most of us gave up on the country and focused instead on making a living. That in itself is not wrong, but we just didn't try hard enough."
He wasn't blaming government for the chronic ills that have paralyzed the country. He wasn't blaming the youth for being apathetic. He wasn't blaming globalization for pushing developed countries forward and leaving the rest of the world behind. He wasn't mouthing off a litany of complaints. Instead, he was facing a reality that many in his generation still could not see: that the failures of this country are aggregated results of THEIR own failures.
Writing this now, I am reminded of that poetic moment when Australians lit their candles and said "We're sorry" to the victims of state-sponsored injustices against the indigenous peoples of Australia. It was a strong, symbolic gesture that united a country and enabled them to move forward from a divided past. I am reminded, too, of how Japan and South Korea rose from the ashes of war and brought dignity and pride to their people through political will, hard work, and sheer discipline. Of course, Barack Obama's victory as the 44th President of the United States comes to mind, too, because one generation ago even his candidacy would have been utterly impossible. I am even reminded of Brazil, Vietnam, and the Czech Republic come to mind because of their marked improvement on the economic and "global PR" fronts.
It didn't take these countries a hundred years to turn around; it took political will and the willingness of their people to make the sacrifices that usually precede success.
* * *
Now that the challenge of true, sustainable reform and better governance falls on the shoulders of MY generation, I'd just like to ask our elders to make one meaningful resolution for the New Year:
BACK US UP. Back us up by acknowledging your mistakes and showing us what you could have done better. Let's face it: every decision, every action, could be done in a better way. Tell us what went wrong, what factors contributed to our current state, what decisions you would have reversed, what you would not have done at all -- and so on. It is only through your collective foresight and hard-earned wisdom that will we know what paths will waste our time at best, or which ones will sabotage our efforts at worst. We CANNOT afford to make the same mistakes you made because we're running out of time.
Back us up by supporting our efforts. Yes, "the youth is the hope of the country"—we've heard that at least a million times. We know that it is our time to put in the hours, our turn to step up to the plate of nation-building; it’s our turn to lead. But we cannot work in a vacuum, and we cannot move forward without the proper resources. We will need you to steer us toward the right direction, to introduce us to the right people, and to mobilize the necessary resources to get things done. Enable us, and we will help in empowering the whole country -- it sounds like a good deal to me.
Back us up by giving us space to create, experiment, innovate. We need your advice and your help, but we also need some room to develop new and "out of the universe" solutions to old and chronic problems. Share the volumes of wisdom culled from your experience, but do not dictate every step that we ought to take. Trust that, as young as we are, we, too, have the capability to think things through and get the job done. Steer us, but do not stifle us. True synergy can only happen when both parties (in this case, your generation and ours) regard each other as equals.
* * *
Statistics say that between 50 and 56 percent of the entire voting population in 2010 (depending on which figures you look at) will come from the youth. That's a huge number, and if properly steered it can "claim the vote" for reform and good governance. But let us not forget the 44 to 50 percent of adults who are equally crucial to changing the game for the future. There are many adults in the Philippines who still have never voted in their lives; many adults who have yet to register; many adults who still do not know how to choose the right leaders for their children... many, many adults -- especially those outside of the country -- who have given up on the Philippines because "walang ganyan sa States."
Youth may have already escaped you, but your time is still not up. As long as you're around, we're going to need your help.
Niña Terol, 28, is a key mover of Movement for Good Governance and is a writer and political communicator. If she could ask former presidents and cabinet members one question, she would ask this: "Name one key decision you had made during your term that you would have done better, and how and why. Answering 'none' is not an option."
A New Year's Resolution for our Elders
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Theres nothing the elders should be sorry about. They should be proud enough of bringing into this world a better generation. And beautiful. They have accepted to be enslaved by them. Its their duty, their obligation, their function. Its a a bonus if the young generation look back at them and see that they die modestly at least.
Australia has had basic medicare for the whole population since about 1973, but before it came into effect, the opposition said the country couldn't afford it (like it couldn't afford 'equal pay for equal work') and of course the private health insurers didn't want a bar of it. But very few oppose it today because all can see the benefits.
Maybe some day some leaders with vision will push for universal pinoy medicare, not as a fringe benefit, but as a matter of simple elementary justice. Maybe in our lifetime even?
26dec2008
lasvegasnv
0034
from kayana2,
you're very optimistic ms.terol. as we say in old parlance, you see the glass as half-full and not half-empty.
you are absolutely right. it is the young "turk" that should step up to the plate and deliver the grand slam we all hooting for. but do we have a young "turk" with same mission and vision like yours and mine?
you see, i was away in all three quarter of my lifetime from our patria adorada. i've visited the motherland relative to my profession. during the 70's it was topsy-turvy, and the nightly curfew was the norm, to check lawlessness, the ruling party's ideas. the 80's was the republic immersion to modernization and rural development, what a deal. the 90's was the all out diaspora for those who wants to see the greener pasture on the other side of the fence. and then the millennium years brings us the total political convulsion that never stop.
where was all the young turk like me from the decades past went, you may ask? we were driven away from the motherland with despair. we did marched across mendiola bridge. some paid dearly with their lives, some went up the hills,also paid dearly with their lives, and some cross the pond.
looking back in retrospect to all things i felt we all should have done: the same curse that failed our young republic since the "cry of balintawak". we failed miserably to organize and agree to have one vision and mission. in short, to rally behind one great leader. we have failed to recognize a potential leader. a leader that will persevere against all odds and fights for our cause. we forgot the very essence of a good fight is to have a great leader. we do'nt have any understanding to the virtues and importance of leadership way back then and still now, i think, based on an emperical observation of our political situation we are all mired in.
we all have to do better in chosing the right leader, we have to, or else all thing is irrelevant.
i hope 2010 will bring a new hope and great leader for all the young turks to follow.
count me in, will you, please.
quo vadis pinoys????
kayana2
lasvegasnv.
Dear Ms. Terol,
Your discreet discourse about us, ELDERS, getting involve with your Movement for Good Governance's (MGG) campaign via New Year's resolution is heartwarming.
I wish you're my daughter or kaya ay apo.
Majority of Filipinos living abroad even though they already have had changed their citizenship are not giving up on the Philippines and still wanting to make a difference toward its progress and good governance. Let me know MGG's web site or email address so I could participate in pursuing your organization's noble agenda.
For time immemorial, our country's institutions of higher learning had been producing technocrats, attested by almost yearly Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) convocation. However, once they become part of the elite, either Corporate or political dynasty, most of them easily forget the basic Good Manners and Right Conduct toward society.
The Philippines possesses immense wealth on human and natural resources, yet only a few enjoys it. Teachers at all levels are underpaid. Their GSIS pension are wantonly manage or totally squandered. Talk to any teachers in public for details of their grievances.
Common laborers are barely making both ends meet because of disadvantageous labor laws enacted favorable only to tycoons.
Trapo turned business tycoons have been the symbol of progress. Effect, our youngster from the remotest barangay are wanting to become Capitan del Barrio not to serve the people but primarily to line up his pocket every election time.
Negosyo din nga naman.
Ms. Terol, through your advocacy plus we, the ELDERS, together we will demand the fair and just practice and adherence to the seven pillars of western wisdom (though most of it are shoved into the throat of our pioneering leaders by the western conquerors) -free market, science and technology, meritocracy, pragmatism, culture of peace, rule of law, and education.
'
You and your followers are the Philippines beacon of hope for good governance. When the going seems uphill, bear in mind the generation to follow yours will inherit and live your legacy on the making.
More power and good health to you.
First I admire MGG for working to make our gov't better. But let's face the facts. The Philippines is not a stable country. 4 of the last 5 administration faced a coup d' etat at some point. Corruption is in the culture of this country. Rich and poor have unequal justice system. Our morality has gone from bad to worst. Can we change all that? Yes, but not in the near future. That is why so many people are migrating. Others just don't care.
Our laws are very good. It's just too bad nobody follows them. Because those corrupt high officials always get away with their crimes. When people see 90% of those high ranking officials get arrested and pay for their crimes, then you will see the corrupt culture change. When you see 90% of good people who perform well at their jobs get rewarded, then you will see less corruption. Because everyone will see it will be better to do good than do bad to get rewarded.
We admire Japan, Korea, China for their progress. They achieved it because they are relatively political stable and corruption free. That is what we need.
When will we see a high ranking official pay for his/her crime? (without being pardoned) Well, I think we will be in for a long wait.